Zambia national team defender Elijah Tana has now been ruled out of this Saturday 2008 Africa Cup Group 11 qualifier against Chad.
Tana, of UAE club Al Jazeera, has failed to recover from a calf injury he sustained on June 2 during Zambia’s 3-0 win over Congo-Brazzaville in another Group 11 clash played at Konkola stadium in Chililabombwe.
He is the second player confirmed not fit for this weekends match together with Nkana FC utility player Mark Sinyangwe who has a back injury.
Taking Tana’s place will be Lusaka Dynamos and Zambia Under 23 defender Hichani Himoonde who was called up last week.
Himoonde came on in Zambia’s 1-1 away draw against Tanzania in an international last Saturday on June 9 in Dar es Salaam in the 15th minute after Zanaco defender Kennedy Nkethani was sent-off.
Meanwhile Zambia returned home from Tanzania yesterday, Sunday at 17:00hrs and today trained in Lusaka on their way to Chililabombwe on Tuesday.
Coach Patrick Phiri is also expecting midfielder Andrew Sinkala of 2.Bundesliga club Paderborn to join the team on the Copperbelt in the coming days.
Coach Phiri I know u are a good and fair coach. What I want to ask you is to play a midfield of Sinkala as an attacking midfielder and Sichone as a defensive midfielder. I know that Sichone is infact better as a defensive medfielder than defender. These two can peform, but trying them out should not be now, but in a friendly at a later stage. The other person I think is good is Lameck Njovu, watched CAN2006 he was very good. Throw your net wide and experiment esp. in friendly games – cheers
Aaa, Justice, good to read your contribution.
The experiments you are suggesting seem to make sense but the only problem is that we black quality friendlies and we can not even utilise fifa official dates.
It would do us more good than harm to implement such experiments in quality (highly ranked oppositions)friendlies.
Justice I disagree with you on Lameck Njobvu. The boy was outplayed in the midfield especially in the game against Tunisia. The boy could not match up to the strength by Bouaziz and company in the middle of the pack. On Sinkala and Sichone you are right.
Justice i agree with you on Sinkala and Sichone,to partner in the midfield.Achen made a mistake for placing Sichone as the last man in defence,instead of a difencive midifielder.But am not totally disagreeing with you on Njobvu. I see him as a seasonal player and he lacks experience.go zed en challenge Bafana Bafana. I believe South Africa will crash out
On internation scene.Barcelona failed to return the top slot for a third week to give Real Madrid a chance to grab the trophy this weekend.It was a heart breaking moment for Barca fans,after seeing their team lead 2:1 all the way. Deep into 90 minutes Espanyol equalised.And as if that wasnt enough,the worst blow was coming,Madrid also equalised in Zaragoza in injury time. Madrid will win the first title ever in four years.The same day will see Beckham and Roberto Carlos bid fairwell to Real Madrid.Though Barca have a pledged a huge sam of Euros to Mallorca,if they force a draw or a win against Madrid.Some times you need lucky to be champions!!
Desire we all know that
Guys/ladies we have to get together to initiate ways and means of improving ZED soccer, no one will do this for us and FAZ cannot do it alone (divisions). More serious forums will do. I mean if we can get to know each better then the better zed soccer too.
I suggest that we make contributions to raise money to fund a coaching course for Patrick Phiri. How about that?
Instead of just being load mouths. Lets us see
Justice, But now we are scattered all over the world. How are we going to achieve this. If we can say, base the treasury in Zambia, who are we going to entrust our money with. You know that Zambian associations have a pathetic record as far money matters are concerned.